“I don’t wanna lose control”: The relationship between sense of control, mental health, and problematic social media use in German adolescents

Canan Maria Dutschke; Julia Brailovskaia

doi:10.29329/jsomer.93

Authors

Canan Maria Dutschke Mental Health Research Center and Treatment Center, Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum, Germany https://orcid.org/0009-0005-1565-0684
Julia Brailovskaia Mental Health Research and Treatment Center, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum, Germany; DZPG (German Center for Mental Health), Partner site Bochum-Marburg, Germany https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7607-1305

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29329/jsomer.93

Keywords:

Adolescence, Sense of Control, Mental Health, Problematic Social Media Use

Abstract

Mental health problems are increasing, especially among adolescents. Sense of control is considered as a cognitive predisposing variable influencing mental health. With the rise of social media, a new online space has emerged that has the potential to provide sense of control. However, sense of control might be reduced by social media use; and this might foster problematic social media use (PSMU). The present study aimed to investigate the role of sense of control for mental health, and potential mechanisms underlying the development of PSMU. Data from N = 154 (M_age = 15.2, SD_age = 1.48) adolescents from Germany were collected via an online survey. The findings revealed that sense of control was significantly negatively associated with symptoms of depression, and it was significantly positively associated with life satisfaction. A mediation analysis revealed that PSMU partially mediated the relationship between sense of control and symptoms of depression. Furthermore, PSMU partially mediated the relationship between sense of control and life satisfaction. The present results reveal potential mechanisms that might contribute to a decrease in mental health among adolescents. Potential ways that could foster adolescents’ mental health are discussed.

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